Like, are you someonewho would rather be alone,or needs to talk it out?

Do you withdraw into silence,or begin to shout?

Understandably, it's a tough questionwithout knowing specificsof the situation...because it could be an upsetlike anger, ormaybe disappointment.And certainly, it could be fear, orpossibly heartache.

All of which stir strong emotions within.All of which involve our mind,our will, and our emotions.And this, the tangle of pieceswhich make up our soul.

I'm intrigued by choices others make,especially when they seem to make themso quickly...almost as if, it's a habit,a reflex,an automatic go-to-response.

Well, that is, when the choiceis a good one.You know, when it works out well for them.

Because all of our responsesare choices really.Even though when they don't workin our favorit's easier to blame themon circumstancerather than choice.

Take for example...King Hezekiah.

Here's a man who seems have madea series of choicesso quickly...almost as if, it's a habit,a reflex,an automatic go-to-response.when circumstances were far from perfect.

In fact, I'm not certainany of us have facedthe extreme of what he did...personal threats of warto a kingdom over which he sat as ruler.His, the responsibility of untold lives.

And so it was,when King Hezekiah heard it,that he tore his clothes,covered himself with sackcloth,and went into the house of the Lord.2 Kings 19:1 NKJV

I can probably sayfor certain, this would not have beenmy go-to-response.

I may have done a bit more freaking out,crying, pacing, wringing of my handsand then asking a bunch of peoplefor opinons and help.

But not this man...not King Hezekiah.

First, it must be noted,that this is a list of behaviorsof a person upset in that time period...often of mourning.The tearing of his clothes andwearing sackcloth, which is a garmentof coarsely woven fabric, usually goat hair.

So the first thing he didwas not uncommon for his day,but it's the next choice, I believewas what distinguished him,as one set apart and determinedto honor God.

Without hesitation...Hezekiah went to the house of the Lord.

It didn't seem that he stumbled,stuttered, started, or sputtered.Hezekiah seemed to have the routine.He knew what to do and where to gowhen circumstances were out of his control.

Meanwhile, outside the walls of Judah,the King of Assyria and his menpersisted in their threats of war.

And Hezekiah received the letterfrom the hand of the messengers,and read it.

Thus far, Hezekiahhas shown us to be a faithful man.But his torn clothes,his wearing of sackcloth,his visit to the temple, and certainlyhis prayers prayed withinhad not changed the mind,nor the intensity of the Assyrians.

For they still encamped around Judah.And they still shouted from the wallto the people, trying to incite them.

So maybe it was not working...this bit about faith,this choice to go to God with his problems.Maybe the Assyrians were rightand God couldn't help them.

But what I love about Hezekiahare the choices he continued to makebefore the peopleand before the Lord.

For after he received this lettercertainly filled with threats and ultimatums...Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord,and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord,and said: “O Lord God of Israel,the One who dwells between the cherubim,You are God, You alone,of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear;open Your eyes, O Lord, and see;and hear the words of Sennacherib,which he has sent to reproach the living God.Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyriahave laid waste the nations and their lands,and have cast their gods into the fire;for they were not gods,but the work of men’s hands...wood and stone.Therefore they destroyed them.Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray,save us from his hand,that all the kingdoms of the earthmay know that You are the Lord God,​You alone.”2 Kings 19:14-19

How awesome is that.Hezekiah did not changehis course of action...his choice of faith during upset.

Not even, and especially whenthe enemy continued to provoke...Furthermore, his (the king of Assyria) servants spoke against the Lord Godand against His servant Hezekiah.He also wrote letters to revilethe Lord God of Israel,and to speak against Him, saying,“As the gods of the nations of other landshave not delivered their people from my hand,so the God of Hezekiah will not deliverHis people from my hand.” Then they called out witha loud voice in Hebrewto the people of Jerusalemwho were on the wall,to frighten them and trouble them2 Chronicles 32:17-18

Certainly God knew all of this.God saw their actions,God despised their pride.

And Hezekiah could have simplygiven up his faith in Godbecause these men were louder...more in his face and not going away.

He could have justshouted about the problem,posted on social media abouthow awful the world had becomeand complained that God wasn't listening.

But rather he went to Him in prayer...he laid the actual letter before Godbasically saying...Are You going to let people say this about You?​Save us and show them...show all the world who You really are!

And God answered Hezekiah's prayers.Isaiah the prophet came to himwith this word..."Thus says the Lord God of Israel:‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,I have heard.’“Therefore thus says the Lordconcerning the king of Assyria:‘He shall not come into this city,Nor shoot an arrow there,Nor come before it with shield,Nor build a siege mound against it.By the way that he came,By the same shall he return;And he shall not come into this city,’Says the Lord.'For I will defend this city, to save itFor My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”

And it came to pass on a certain nightthat the angel of the Lord went out,and killed in the camp of the Assyriansone hundred and eighty-five thousand;and when people arose early in the morning,there were the corpses... all dead.So Sennacherib king of Assyriadeparted and went away,returned home, and remained at Nineveh.2 Kings 19:20, 32-36

So God didn't just deliver Judah.God didn't just send the Assyrians away.God showed up and showed offin a very big and powerful way.And King Hezekiah didn't even have tosend out troops or risk the lifeof any of his citizens or soldiers.

God kept the Assyrians out...not even allowing an arrowof theirs to be shot forth.

And that angel... can you imaginewaking up the next morning?185,000 Assyrian corpses.I'm not trying to be gross or graphic,but seriously, even Judah's armymay not have conquered so many.

So the Assyrian King left.As a matter of fact, once home,while the he was worshippinghis sons came temple of Nisroch his god,and struck him down with the sword,taking his place as king.

Word of Godtrain me, today...To practice this day making choices of faith,that when upset happens,​these will be my habit.To trust You in all circumstances,bringing before You any and every concern,​for You are Lord of all.

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from my heart...

I write as an overflow... an expression of my true love for God and with a deep desire to encourage others in their day to day lives. For we can only find peace, joy, and satisfaction when we yield to the One who yielded His life for us.